Bon-Ton December Comps Hit by Bad Weather

YORK, Pa.-Bon-Ton Stores said its December same-store sales were "significantly impacted" by rough winter weather in its markets.

The retailer did not say how much sales were affected, but Brendan Hoffman, president and CEO, said, "We are disappointed with the deceleration in sales during December, particularly given the strong start to the holiday season beginning with Black Friday and extending through the early part of the month." Hoffman added that the adverse weather and "treacherous" travel conditions sharply reduced traffic and hampered promotional events on key weekend selling dates leading up to, and continuing after, Christmas.

Keith Plowman, Bon-Ton's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the company now expects same-store sales for all of fiscal 2013 to be down about 3.5 percent. Bon-Ton will report its results for the fiscal year, which will end on Feb. 1, in early March.